What Mary and Martha in the Bible Can Teach Us About Worship

 What Mary and Martha in the Bible Can Teach Us About WorshipA guest post by Katie M. Reid of katiemreid.com.

 

Hes alive!

Thats what I wanted to shout as I sat in the quiet church service. We were singing a stirring song of praise, but many seemed to be whispering or not even singing.

I felt the need to turn down my volume so I wouldnt stand out. But my frustration grew as I wondered why others werent audibly declaring their affection to their Savior.

Whether you are more introverted or extroverted, more reserved or more expressive, worshipping God is an important part of our faith.

While I was tempted to boss the congregants into singing with more gusto, two sisters from Bethany (in Luke 10:38-42) changed my perspective. Their story taught me a thing (or four) about worshipping God.

 

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Mary and Martha in the Bible: Two Different Approaches to Worship

 

Mary and Martha in the Bible were friends of Jesus (as was their brother, Lazarus). They welcomed Jesus and his followers into their home.

Mary sat at Jesusfeet, listening to Him, while Martha was worried and distracted by the preparations for their guests.

Martha felt all alone in her serving so she asked Jesus to tell her sister to lend a hand.

Jesus responded to her (in Luke 10:41-42): Martha, Martha,the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are neededor indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.

For centuries, women who are made like Martha have felt guilty for being wired as a doer, based on this biblical account. But lets pull back the curtain to see whats really going on.

 

What can we learn about worship from this exchange between Jesus and Martha?

Was Jesus asking Martha to stop doing in order to sit? Or did His correction go beyond the obvious?

What if Jesus wasnt even asking Martha to sit down physically, but was inviting her to choose to worship Him, even while she served?

Jesus showed Martha the importance of making His Presence a priority, like Mary was doing, even in the midst of the busyness of life.

 

15 Great Women of the Bible and the lessons they can teach us

 

Guess what! This post is part of a series on Great Women of the Bible.

Be sure to check out all of the other posts in this series here: 15 Great Women of the Bible Every Christian Woman Should Study.

We are studying great women of the Bible including Jezebel and Abigail, so you’ll definitely want to check them out!

 

4 Lessons We Can Learn About Worship From Mary and Martha in the Bible

1. There is More Than One Way to Worship God

 

In John 12:1-3, we see a diverse picture of worship from Martha, Mary, and their brother, Lazarus:

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesushonor.

Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesusfeet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Martha served, Lazarus rested, and Mary poured out a lavish offering.

 

Often we focus on Marys beautiful expression of worship but we overlook how her sister and brother were worshipping too.

These siblings, and friends of Jesus expressed their love for Jesus in ways that were unique to their temperaments, yet each demonstrated sincere devotion to His place in their hearts.

We dont have to worship God in the same way as our brothers and sisters in Christ, but we should focus on Him as we do, not on the distractions around us.  

 

2. Worship is More About Heart Posture Than Physical Posture

 

Mary sat at Jesusfeet, listening to Him speak. Her posture demonstrated humility and receptivity, giving the Lord her time and attention.

While bowing our knees and raising our hands can express worship, its more important that our hearts are pliable and focused on our object of worship. Someone could be singing loudly in church, yet their motivation is to be heard and seen. Someone else could be sitting down, not moving a muscle, and their heart could be more attuned to the King of Kings than anyone else in the sanctuary.

It is not our job to judge others for their expressions of worship, but it is important thatwhether we are serving, resting, or sittingwe focus our attention and affection on the One who is worthy of our praise.

 

3. Worship is Simply Loving God Back

 

Mother of fourteen and singer/songwriter, Niki Homan, defines it this way, Worship is simply loving God back.

Often we make worship complicated, or about us, but worship is the way we demonstrate how grateful we are for who God is and who we are in light of Him. God has created us, saved us, and proven His love for us on the cross (John 3:16). Worship is a conscious choice to give thanks to God and return our love to Him.

 

4. You Can Worship God While You Work

 

Connecting with God during times of Bible reading and prayer are important, and singing to Him showcases our gratitude, but these are not the only ways to worship God.

In John 12:1-3, Jesus does not correct Martha again for being worried and distracted while serving. This shows us that Marthas heart changed, not her personality. After Marthas revelation of who Jesus is (in John 11:21-27), we see her serving from a place of peace instead of panic, worshipping God in her service to Him.

 

Whether on a walk, observing creation, tackling a sink load of dirty dishes, or intently listening to a loved one pour out their heart, you can worship as you go about your day.

Like Mary and Martha in the Bible, when you welcome others into your home, you can worship God by the way you care for them.

Sure, there is a time to soak in His Presenceto sit in quiet contemplation or raise our hands, in praise. But we can also worship Jesus even when our hands are busy.

We dont have to worship first and then work, we can worship while we work.

 

Because Christ lives in us, by faith, we carry Him as we go about our daily tasks. He is not isolated to our quiet times or worship services. Our whole lives can be an act or worship, in our coming and our going, in resting and playing, in eating and working.

Remember, you can worship God in many ways. Your heart posture, in worship, matters more than your physical posture. Dont complicate worship, its simply loving God back. Experience peace as you focus on Him throughout your day.

Mary and Martha in the Bible (and Lazarus) were each loved by God (John 11:5). It was His love for each of these siblings that inspired them to worship Him fully, in their unique ways.

Now, its your turn. Take some time to demonstrate your devotion to God in a way that best expresses your gratitude to Him.

Hes alive!

 

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Do you find yourself to be more like Mary, Martha, or Lazarus in your worship? When is your favorite time to worship as you go about your day?

 

Katie ReidKatie M. Reid is a devoted wife and mom to five lively children. She is a national speaker and author of, Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done. Katie is the co-host of The Martha + Mary Show podcast. Discover how to stress less and smile more at katiemreid.com and text MARTHA to 33777 to sign-up for Katies uplifting email newsletter.

4 Comments

  1. I am a Worshipper at Heart! I have discovered that during difficult times it’s best to Worship. If you keep your eyes on the situation, it’s impossible to give God the praise and believing He will intervene.

    We can worship at all times ~ You shared this in a beautiful way!

    Thank you for blessing me today!

  2. Loved reading this – Thanks so much for sharing these valuable reminders!

    “worship is just loving God back” – when you put it that way, we see that there are countless ways we can worship God, anywhere and anytime. Amen!

    Dear Lord, help us to ‘focus our attention and affection on the One who is worthy of our praise.’ – Amen.

    Thanks again – God bless!:)

    1. Thank you! We are so glad you have enjoyed it. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out the other articles in our Great Women of the Bible Series!

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